Stuttgart, Germany - Mercedes-Benz has extended its Euro-market range of C-Class sedans and Estates with no less than five new derivatives, two of which will be released in South Africa - one as soon as June 2015, one in mid-2016

Due here in two months is the C300, the new flagship of the four-cylinder, two-litre C-Class fleet. In the old days C300 would have denoted a three-litre V6, but in today's down-sized, force-fed, high-output terms it's a 1991cc turbopetrol four rated at 180kW and 370Nm, driving the rear wheels through a seven-speed 7G-Tronic Plus transmission.

That, says the maker, is good enough to launch the sedan from a standstill to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds, while fuel consumption is quoted at a nominal 6.3 litres per 100km.

(VERY) LONG LIST OF OPTIONS

The C300 will go on sale in South Africa in mid-June at R566 196. Among a (very) long list of options will be a head-up display, a touchpad and comprehensive list of driver aids, as well as a revised choice of trims and, for the first time on a C-Class, a heated steering wheel.

Also due for SA release - but not until mid-2016, so no pricing yet, unfortunately - is the all-wheel drive, 270kW, C450 AMG 4Matic that Jesse Adams of our print sister publication Star Motoring drove recently at the world media launch in Faro, Portugal.

What's not coming to South Africa is the new entry-level, 1595cc, 95kW/210Nm C160, which in Europe will compete directly with the BMW 316, as well as two new all-wheel drive variants, the C200 and C220d 4Matics.